by John S. Rivers
We can’t deny that we, as a global nation, are going through an unprecedented crisis. Even though wars and diseases created lockdowns throughout history, nothing compares to the safety and health measures governments around the world have been put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A wise man once said “It doesn’t matter what happens to you in life, but how you react to it and adapt to the situation.” Those that are able to adapt to this new normal were all experiencing and can turn their downtime into a time for valuable personal improvement will reap the most rewards from this pandemic. So, without further delay, what I’m here to talk about today is the opportunity to learn improve your skills, while sitting at home, with some amazing online courses in photography!
Photography is no longer a closed-off industry, limited to those with deep pockets and a college degree, but an immensely accessible and popular job or hobby that brings the best of our creativity. Whether you’re an aspiring photographer, a business owner trying to advertise your store, a journalist picking up a new skill, or even a social media influencer trying to get higher quality photos for your followers, photography can be a major improvement on your professional life and your personal creativity.
Even though we’ve all gone through the YouTube rabbit hole of tutorials, there are some amazing photography online courses you can take advantage of. Here are my top three picks, at the moment:
Top Picks
This is a quick overview of some of the top online courses you can enroll in right now but if you want to learn more about these and others, be sure to check out OnlineCourseRank.com for a deeper analysis.
Photography Basics and Beyond: From Smartphone to DSLR Specialization
This one is one of my favorites for a simple reason: It’s extremely efficient in grabbing teenager’s attention and changing their focus from fairly limited smartphone photography to the infinitely creative and amazing world of DSLRs. Available on the Coursera platform, this course is offered by Michigan State University and is taught by Peter Glendinning, Professor of Art, Art History and Design and Mark Sullivan, Associate Professor, Music and Innovation Hub.
As all your beginner courses, this one goes over the basics of photography, like the exposure, basics of composition, and overall photography creativity – something you can use even with a smartphone. In the end, not only do you get a certificate, but also discounts on various photography accessories.
Cameras, Exposure, and Photography
Because the last one is more of a beginner course, the “Cameras, Exposure and Photography” is the course one of the specialization, taught by the same professors and offered by the same university.
Here you’ll learn how to take those theoretical concepts you’ve learned on the first course and, with the help of your camera, place them into practice. You’ll be offered knowledge and quizzes about the technical components of a camera and how to take full advantage of them. Something I really enjoyed about this one is the focus on a diversity of photography accessories and equipment – something that schools usually overlook.
Photography Techniques: Light, Content, and Sharing
If you got excited about the last two, then this one will blow your mind. This is the course #4 of the specialization – again, same teachers, same university.
Light may be a simple concept at the start, but manipulating it and using it like a diverse, amazing tool, is no simple job. That’s why I enjoyed this course so much, mainly because they explain in detail when to use light, where to place it, and how to take advantage of it. Saying more would spoil the experience but I’m certain you’ll love the course as it’s not only highly valuable in terms of learning but also extremely enjoyable from start to finish.
A Few Extra Recommendations
And because photography is just a small pixel on the visual communication overall image, there are a few skills that you can complement with it, in order to better understand how the image communicates and how the audience responds to it.
If you’re into editing, be it video or photos, Adobe’s YouTube channel offers free content that will definitely help you improve. We’re not talking about those 3-minute videos of a simple technique or an editing tip, but 1-2 hour streams, with professionals, focusing on an editing tool, or a complex concept.
If you’re an aspiring journalist and want to better understand the broadcasting world, the Academy of Radio and & Television Broadcasting is probably the best choice for you. Even though most courses are not online, they have a “30-Week Online Radio Broadcasting Program” that has been praised by a lot of experts in the area.
Lastly, if filmmaking is your dream, Masterclass is your way up there. They cover a lot of subjects, but listening to directors like Scorcese, Spielberg, Tarantino, among others, talking about their personal vision of this art is the kind of moments that get you inspired and change the way you look at your professional life.
So, stop procrastinating and take advantage of this weird time we’re on. Learn. Get inspired. Build a better future for yourself and come out swinging harder than ever before!
Feature photo by Erik Mclean, @introspectivedsgn
